CAMPAIGNERS have staged a protest outside a "vital" facility under threat of closure by a cash strapped council.

Concerned members of the community and users of the John Darling Mall home in Boyatt Wood gathered to voice their concerns at plans to close the 30-year-old facility.

They staged a peaceful demonstration against the move by Hampshire County Council, holding up slogans 'Save JDM from Tory cuts' and 'Give carers a break'.

County council bosses are currently holding a consultation on a proposal to close the respite centre in a bid to make savings and cope with increasing demands for social care.

Rev Iain McFarlane, priest in charge at nearby St Peter's Church, is leading the Save JDM campaign and members of the congregation are involved as some have used the service.

A petition has already nearly 500 signatures.

John Darling Mall, in Selborne Drive, provides care for people with physical disabilities, with six permanent warden-controlled flats alongside a respite care service giving carers time away from their full-time responsibilities, caring for 67 people last year.

In its consultation, the council says social care is changing with a steady rise in the number of people with complex care needs meaning a growing need for "modern and adaptable respite accommodation".

It also acknowledged the council's "significant financial challenges".

The council is aiming to save £96m in 2015-16 to cope with reduced Government funding and increased demand for statutory social care.

Consultation documents state the building needs significant renovation work and bringing it up to modern standards would cost around £5m.

It also says numbers of users are falling.

But Rev McFarlane said closing the service will disrupt users, moving them away from the community they know.

Campaigners fear that they will end up in places that combine caring for people with physical and mental disabilities, which they believe will not provide the specialist care they need.

Rev McFarlane also accused the council of deliberately "mothballing" the service by signposting people to other options and not investing in it.

"The bottom line is that I personally believe that they are forcing cuts upon the most vulnerable in the community who frankly aren't going to be able to fight back," he said.

The council's executive member for adult services Cllr Liz Fairhurst said no decisions have been made and it has met with tenants and staff and written to service users and wanted to hear the views of users and the wider community.

She added: “My priority is to ensure that there is appropriate choice of respite support for Hampshire residents.”

The consultation closes on September 4 before a final decision in November.

To participate visit hants.gov.uk/johndarlingmall-consultation.

To sign the petition go to the church or visit the Facebook page 'Save John Darling Mall PD Respite Service/Accommodation' for the link.

PANEL AMONG the protestors was former resident Hannah Buchanan who praised the staff and told of her concern for those using the service in future.

The 34-year-old, of Bishopstoke, has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic so has limited movement of her arms and legs and uses a wheelchair.

She used the respite service 10 years ago when she came back from university and wanted to maintain her independence while she waiting for accommodation - she was there four years.

"I do believe it's a vital service and it's not just a case of providing a service, it's a question of providing the right service with the right expertise," she said.

"People are just very nervous and very anxious and very worried.

"There's a lot of strength of feeling on this."